Akihabara

Akihabara Electric Town

Akihabara (秋葉原), also called Akiba after a former local shrine, is a district in central Tokyo that is famous for its many electronics shops. In more recent years, Akihabara has gained recognition as the center of Japan's otaku (diehard fan) culture, and many shops and establishments devoted to anime and manga are now dispersed among the electronic stores in the district. On Sundays, Chuo Dori, the main street through the district, is closed to car traffic from 13:00 to 18:00 (until 17:00 from October through March).

Akihabara has been undergoing major redevelopment over the years, including the renovation and expansion of Akihabara Station and the construction of new buildings in its proximity. Among these newly opened buildings were a huge Yodobashi electronics store and the Akihabara Crossfield, a business complex with the aim of promoting Akihabara as a center for global electronics technology and trade.

Side streets lined by electronics shops and maid cafes

Electronics

Hundreds of electronics shops, ranging from tiny one-man stalls specializing in a particular electronic component to large electronics retailers, line the main Chuo Dori street and the crowded side streets around Akihabara. They offer everything from the newest computers, cameras, televisions, mobile phones, electronics parts and home appliances to second-hand goods and electronic junk.

A few chain stores such as Sofmap and Laox each operate multiple specialized branches along the main roads, while small independent shops can be found in the side streets. The only mega sized store is the Yodobashi Camera complex on the east side of the station.

Note that some of the electronics on sale are only intended for use in Japan due to voltage and other technical differences, Japanese language documentation and limited warranties. However, several stores also feature a selection of international models intended for overseas use, and most also offer tax free shopping to foreign tourists.

Game center and vending machines selling soft drinks and canned oden

Otaku Goods

The character of Akihabara has constantly changed over the decades and continues to do so. In the last decade Akihabara has emerged as a center of Japanese otaku and anime culture, and dozens of stores specializing in anime, manga, retro video games, figurines, card games and other collectibles have filled the spaces between the electronics retailers.

In addition to shops, various other animation related establishments have become popular in the area, particularly maid cafes where waitresses dress up and act like maids or anime characters, and manga cafes (manga kissa), a type of internet cafe where customers can read comics and watch DVDs in addition to having access to the internet.

Major Electronics Stores

SofmapHours: 10:00 to 21:00 (some branches have different hours) Closed: No closing days

Sofmap operates six shops around Akihabara. In addition to their main store, they have many specialty branches that feature a type of item such as Apple products, CDs or games, as well as a number of outlets for used products such as used computers, cameras, CDs and software.

LaoxHours: 10:00 to 19:00 (some branches have different hours) Closed: No closing days

The Laox Main Store in Akiba offers the largest number of tax free items of all the branches in Tokyo. Hobby and game related products areavailable in addition to electronics, souvenirs and lifestyle goods.

Yamada DenkiHours: 10:00 to 22:00 Closed: No closing days

Yamada Denki operates a "LABI" store just across the street from the Akihabara Electric Town exit of JR Akihabara Station. It specializes in personal computers, pc accessories and household electronics.

AkkyHours: 9:00 to 20:00 Closed: No closing days

Akky specializes in tax free goods and operates two shops around Akihabara Station. Akky sells a variety of electronic equipment for overseas use, including cameras, computers, televisions, DVD players and software. Some branches carry used or refurbished items.

Yodobashi CameraHours: 9:30 to 22:00 Restaurants: 11:00 to 23:00 Closed: No closing days

The Shinjuku based discount electronic store giant Yodobashi Camera opened its huge Akihabara branch in September 2005. Unlike most other electronic shops, it is located on the east side of Akihabara Station. This branch offers one stop shopping for computers, games, watches and cameras, and sells tax free and international models.

Otaku Attractions

Maid CafesMaid cafes are cosplay themed restaurants where guests are served by waitresses that are typically dressed as French maids. In addition to serving food, the maids engage in conversation and games with the customers and treat them with the care and respectful language due to the master of a house. Maid cafes are popular with both men and women, and some cafes, like the @Home Cafe, offer English speaking maids.

Don QuijoteHours: 9:00 to 5:00Closed: No closing days

Don Quijote is a discount store chain that carries everything from groceries and toys to electronics and high end fashion goods. The Akihabara branch is home to the girl pop group AKB48, who perform daily shows at their theater on the 8th floor of the store (3000 yen). There is also a branch of the @Home Cafe maid cafe on the 5th floor of the store.

Radio KaikanHours: 10:00 to 20:00Radio Kaikan is one of Akihabara's iconic landmarks, and features more than 30 stores selling electronics and other anime related goods. Some of the famous stores include K-Books, Kaiyodo and Volks which sell all kinds of manga, models, toys, trading cards, figurines and collectibles. The building was torn down in 2011, was rebuilt, and reopened its doors in 2014 as a taller, ten story building.

Super PotatoHours: 11:00 to 20:00 (from 10:00 on weekends and national holidays) Closed: No closing days

Super Potato sells all types of video games and video game consoles, and specializes in retro systems and games. Here you can find practically every game system ever produced along with a huge selection of used game cartridges, discs and game accessories.

GamersHours: 9:00 to 22:00 (upper floors 10:00 to 21:00) Closed: No closing days

Mandarake, the self described "largest manga and anime shop in the world", operates a large branch in Akihabara. Specializing in pre-owned goods, it is a good place to find rare and collectible manga, figurines, dolls, posters, CDs, toys and other types of manga related goods.

Tsukumo Robot KingdomHours: 10:00 to 21:00Closed: No closing days

The Tsukumo Robot Kingdom is a retail shop, selling all things robots. Found on the second floor of the Tsukumo Pasocon Honten II building, the store carries ready-made toy robots as well as DIY robots which have to be put together and are all not very large. Robot building parts and components are also available.

Gundam CaféHours: 10:00 to 22:30 Closed: No closing days

The Gundam Cafe is themed after the extremely popular Mobile Suit Gundam anime series. The cafe serves gundam themed dishes and is decorated with art and themes from the series. A gift shop is attached and sells character goods and souvenirs.

AKB48 Cafe and ShopRestaurant: 11:00 to 22:00 (longer hours on weekends and holidays) Shop: 11:00 to 22:00 (longer hours on weekends and holidays)

The AKB48 Cafe next door to the Gundam Cafe is a themed restaurant based on the popular idol group AKB48. The cafe serves food inspired by the idols, and character goods are sold at the attached shops. The cafe has a theater where a rotating cast of AKB members perform daily (reservations required) during scheduled performance times.

Other Attractions

Akihabara CrossfieldInfo Center: 11:00 to 17:30Closed: Mondays and New Year holidaysThe Akihabara Crossfield complex consists of the Akihabara Dai Building and the UDX Building. The lower floors have shops and restaurants, while the upper floors aim to be the "global center for the IT industry" and accommodate offices, conference space and showrooms. The second floor of the UDX Building houses the Akiba Info Center while the fourth floor is home to the Tokyo Anime Center.

How to get there

Akihabara Station is a busy station served by the JR Yamanote Line, JR Keihin-Tohoku Line, JR Sobu Line, the Tsukuba Express and the Hibiya Subway Line. Suehirocho Station on the Ginza Subway Line is located around the northern end of the district.

From Tokyo StationAkihabara is two stations north of Tokyo Station by JR Yamanote or Keihin-Tohoku Line. The trip takes about three minutes and costs 140 yen. During weekday daytime, the Keihin-Tohoku Line skips the station between Tokyo and Akihabara, which shaves off a few more seconds from the travel time.

From Shinjuku Station Take the JR Chuo Line (orange colored rapid service) from Shinjuku to Ochanomizu Station (10 minutes) and make a quick and easy transfer to the JR Sobu Line (yellow colored local service) for one more station to Akihabara (2 minutes). Alternatively, take a yellow colored train without transfer all the way from Shinjuku to Akihabara (17 minutes). The one way fare is 170 yen in either case.

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